The Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has warned that the growing wave of defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, likening the situation to an overloaded boat at risk of capsizing midstream.
Moro made the remarks during plenary after Barinada Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh, senators representing Rivers South-East and Rivers East, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Their defection was witnessed by APC leaders who were admitted into the chamber following a suspension of senate rules.
Reacting after plenary resumed, Moro said while lawmakers have the right to associate freely, continuous defections weaken opposition politics and threaten democratic balance. “When you overload a boat midstream, the possible consequence is that the load will capsize,” he said, cautioning against celebrating what he described as a “dangerous drift” in Nigeria’s democracy.
He added that those leaving the opposition should do so with conviction rather than portraying the PDP as collapsing. “You can’t beat a child and ask him not to cry,” Moro said, insisting that the opposition remains intact and committed to serving Nigeria’s interests.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio interrupted, urging Moro to restrict his comments to the business of the day. Moro, however, maintained that the opposition had not collapsed and would continue to play its role.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin objected, arguing that Moro’s comments violated senate rules and were personal opinions that should have been raised under a different order. Akpabio upheld the objection, declaring Moro’s protest procedurally invalid, though he noted that expressions of dissatisfaction should not be suppressed.
Earlier, Mpigi and Onyesoh cited internal divisions within the PDP as reasons for their defection. The move reduced the PDP’s seats in the Senate from 26 to 24, while increasing the APC’s representation from 75 to 77.